Leong Jun Hao is gearing up for his All England debut from March 11-16, with national singles coach Kenneth Jonassen prioritizing his preparation. The world No. 28 will skip the German Open and Orleans Masters to stay fresh for the prestigious tournament in Birmingham. Before that, he will lead Malaysia at the Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championships (BAMTC) in China next week.
Jonassen emphasized the importance of arriving in top form for Jun Hao’s first All England appearance. Given his inconsistency in back-to-back tournaments, skipping the initial European events will help him focus solely on performing well in Birmingham. The decision aims to prevent fatigue and maximize his chances on the big stage.
Jun Hao had a breakthrough last November by reaching the Kumamoto Masters Super 500 final but struggled in the following tournaments. This season, he has yet to progress beyond the second round in the Malaysia Open, India Open, and Indonesia Masters. Jonassen believes adjusting his tournament schedule is key to improving his performance.
Meanwhile, world No. 7 Lee Zii Jia will return to action at the Orleans Masters after recovering from an ankle injury. Justin Hoh, ranked No. 58, will compete in the German Open and Orleans Masters, as he did not qualify for the All England. The European circuit will conclude with the Swiss Open after the All England.
